(Disclaimer I do not own any of these characters or VA world that would be Richelle Mead)
Rose POV
Over the next week we all concentrated on gathering the evidence needed to bring Lazar down and I have to say the man made it really easy for us. Not the criminal mastermind that he probably thought himself when he started planning my downfall.
First there was the money trail. He didn't hide it or move it from several accounts before transferring it to Cains account. No he decided to do a directly transfer from his personal account straight to Cains. 250K well at least I'm flattered that he got a quarter of a million for trying to kill me I would of been pissed if it was only a couple of grand.
Then there was the gun used to shoot me. He didn't get Cain to use one that he already had probably fearing that it would be traced back to Cain and then by association himself, or even get Cain to acquire a new gun himself. No Lazar felt that he had to get the gun himself probably thinking he would do a better job of hiding his involvement. Instead of going through the black market so that it would of been untraceable or maybe stealing one from the guardians ammunition depot where it would of been impossible to tie to him. Okay so he would of had to disable the security and the CCTV but still smarter then his option. No he went out and got one from a human outlet. So basically when we ran the guns serial number through the database all the info we needed came back with Lazars.
I mean come on how easy did this idiot make it for us needless to say the evidence was so compelling that a court date was set for two weeks time.
Sadly Lazar was the least of my worries. Waking up and sitting against the head board of our bed watching Dimitri sleep peacefully next to me I can't help but be amazed that I am the early riser now. He has taken his time off from duty and fully embraced the lie in. I mean this is the man who used to make me wake up at 5am every morning to get in a two hour training session before school started. Watching him now I can't help the small pang of fear that our time like this will soon becoming to an end. We will have to face the reality that is our duty to our charges and the fact that we are based on separate continents.
I know I won't be able to stay here at court this past week has shown me that. Being outside with the general populace has either brought people up to me smiling and welcoming the news that we can move forward and change our world for the better, but there has been some that show their hatred for me. I mean no one else has actually tried to kill me but the other day someone actually spat on me. Come on gross I know our immune systems are high but still that's just so uncouth. I neither want to be hailed as a saviour or a villain I did this to give Dhampir an option in their futures and hope that with that our numbers would go up, more Dhampir to protect our society and killing the actual bad guys strigoi. Did I want to change the whole system we live under yes and no. The royals will continue to rule for a while change is slow going but now those royals know that the only way for them to hold power is by actually ruling with fairness and following the laws. New laws will have to take into account everyone's needs not just Moroi and definitely not just theirs. Until this becomes common place however I will be hailed as either good or bad and with that staying here will be impossible.
Lissa however needs to stay here she is after all a Princess whose holding the Dragomir seat. Forward thinking and a voice for all of us. She will be fair without being biased. Where she is her guardian has to stay. That means Dimitri will be by her side and not mine. I know it's time that we approach this subject and start making plans to how this can work making sure that at least he gets to spend time with Ivan. If this thing between us can't go on due to our commitments so be it but I'll be dammed if it's going to effect my son's ability to have a relationship with his father.
Lissas POV
"So what do you think?" Sitting around the dinning room table in Roses house I look around at Mia, Tasha and Rose hoping the idea I have just pitched isn't totally dumb.
"Lissa that is an amazing idea that would make such a difference to a lot of female Dhampir." Rose answers me with a huge grin. Pulling out her lap top and logging onto her business sight. "Who are you thinking of running the office at court?" She asks while typing away.
"Mia and myself. Obviously it will be more Mia's show as I will have council duty and now that things are having to move forward I'll be really busy there. I will be pulling more for the opening of a Dhampir school for children that are to young to go to an academy that will operate during day light hours. That way female Dhampir who were guardians before becoming mothers can work again patrolling during school hours." I bite my fingernails nervously I don't know if Rose or other Dhampir will feel like this is putting them down us saying they are not good enough to work during the night.
"Lis don't look so scared it's a fantastic idea. These women are trained guardians who were given the option of quit the kid or quit the job. What your suggesting is a great idea. By having them patrol during day light hours while their kids are being cared for means they are in a safer position making it less likely that they'll leave their kids orphaned. They get to stay with their kids while working earning a wage that will support them giving them their pride back. This also frees up all the full time guardians that are at the moment split into night and day shifts to be able to sleep during the day and be ready for the night when they are needed more. Boosting numbers for guarding and fighting. Safer for them and the Moroi. It's a win win. Well done you." Hearing Rose's high praise for the idea makes me want to call a council meeting this second and force the other royals to sign the paperwork.
I can't help the big smile that is spread across my face. I haven't felt this energised about being a royal for a long time. I finally feel that we can really move forward as a society.
"I'll help Mia get started with the new office for the charity." Tasha states looking at Rose.
"Okay Tash that would be great. Find a good space and I'll release the funds. Don't go totally nuts though miss royal!! Can you also help set her up on the system and train her on what needs to be done daily all the legal stuff? Or do you want Mere to go through that?" Rose asks while still nose deep in her laptop.
"No I'm good with all that." Tasha answers.
"Mia are you sure about this? It will be a full time gig and it can be a little heart breaking at times. There is a lot of failure but then when you get the wins it's all worth it. Also is your dad okay with you not helping at the restaurant?" Rose asks Mia looking up from the computer for the first time since getting it out.
"I'm 100% sure I want to do this. It's time that I do something with my life and this is what I want to do. When I marry Eddie my kids will be Dhampir I want to make sure they have the best life possible. My dad is behind me he says it's time I find my own thing." Mia gushes as she speaks about Eddie and future children.
"Okay Mia your all set up and good to go." Rose shouts out slamming the screen down. We are all sitting there with wide smiles on our faces. Today is turning out to be a good day.
Tatiana POV
Walking into the cells at court I have one of my guardians pull a chair up to the bars of Marcus's cell. Wiping down the seat with my hanky before sitting down I look at the man on the other side. Even though a prisoner for the last week you can tell that the guards have treated him well even though he was behind the attempted murder of the girl the Dhampir are hailing as their saviour.
Vasilisa was right I never noticed how unhappy a group of my people were until I had my eyes opened. I just took it for granted that the Dhampir were happy with their lot and chose to become either guardian or live in communes. Unlike others of our society I knew communes were made up mainly of families not blood whores. What I stayed ignorant of was how a lot of blood whores were forcibly made that way by either unfair treatment at school, lack of a proper education or slander once becoming a guardian.
I also did not listen to our guardians who had been treated appallingly instead listening to the rumours and hear say that was spread about them. Take Miss Hathaways pregnancy and everyone saying that it was Adrians child even though he had told me that it wasn't. I believed everyone else and just thought he didn't want to take responsibility for his actions. I was to busy trying to keep the peace at court between the royal Moroi to care about the strays that vanished from our midst. I plan on making this right.
"Tatiana are you here to finally put an end to this madness and get me out of here? The dam Dhampir are now getting to arrogant and need putting back in their place." Marcus cusses out while moving closer to me balancing on the edge of his cot.
"No Marcus I am not. The evidence gathered against you is fool proof and I'm here to advise you that a trail date is set and that your wife has contacted your lawyer who will be here tomorrow morning. I wouldn't be surprised if you will also have to deal with a divorce on top of this!" I state while looking at my nails this idiot really doesn't deserve my time but his wife is a friend and she really does not want to be in a mile radius of him.
"You have to be joking. Tatiana she is a bloody Dhampir who by all rumours is no better than a blood whore. She is going to destroy everything. Next people are going to demand elected leaders probably throwing royals out to communes to fend for themselves." Marcus is going red in the face while whisper shouting this at me. Hmm I wonder if he'll have a heart attack oh well good riddance to bad rubbish.
"No Marcus your the idiot. People like you will end up destroying this society before the Hathaway girl. What did you think was going to happen once the truth came out?" Marcus actually shrugs his shoulders like a child. Oh for gods sake how am I surrounded by total fools.
"Okay let me spell it out. Those royals that embrace the change will be seen as innovative and truly caring about all the species they rule. They will continue to rule and with this discovery bring about a more equal society which is needed. Dhampir numbers will rise with more guardians less strigoi, less strigoi equals more Moroi. Those royals like yourself well they'll be over thrown either by other royals or even Dhampir." Marcus looks like he is about to start shouting so I hold my hand up to silence him.
"Oh I don't mean they'd forcibly remove you I just mean they will refuse to guard you." I finish looking him straight in the eye letting him know I was deadly serious.
"Dhampir can't just say no to guarding us we are royals and they are meant to guard us no matter what, either that or be bed warmers. They need us and if they refuse they should be shunned and sent out to communes where they belong" He scoffs
"Do they Marcus really need us anymore? Well Marcus I see that my time is totally wasted here. I will say this however you will lose this case but if you go to prison that will shock me."
"Finally your making sense they would never convict me. I mean she's just a Dhamp." I swear if he butts in one more time I'll have one of my guards shoot him. I don't think they would mind to much.
"Oh you will be convicted of attempted murder, hiring of a hit man and putting at risk you monarch who could of been hit by a stray bullet." His face at my words is priceless finally he sees the situation he's in. "What I mean by prison is if you get there. Remember whose daughter you tried to kill." Pausing for effect. "Oh well that's time must dash duty to see to, a council meeting to attend. You know busy busy." I explain happily while standing.
Leaving Marcus in the cell I walk out and can't help the little laugh that escapes. Looking at my royal guard I can see pride in their eyes and realise that that's the first time I have ever witnessed my guard have pride in me. It's a feeling I could get used to.
